Refrigerating apparatus



A ril 28, 1936.

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed May 29, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet l 'INVENTOR D. I i-REEVES 2,039,188.

April 28, 1936. v

D. H. REEVES Filed May 29, 1331 34' 31 f i tll' l 5 6 Sheets-Shee t 2 April 28, 1936. E E 2,039,188

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed May 29, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 IV NT R I A ril 28, 1936. D. H. REEVES REFRIGERATING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 29, 1931 REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed May 29, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 BY "wig/R v April 28, 1936. D. H. REEVES- REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed May 29, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INV ENT QR Muf'flai' A'ITORNEY5 Patented .Apr. 28,

UNITED STATES- spsaiss v asrnrcmrnso arranarns Donald B. Dayton, Ohio, assignor, by

mesne assignments, to

General Motors Corporation, a corporation of Delaware I Application May so, 1931, Serial No. 541,012 i 12 Claims. (01. 62-141) This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and more particularly to a drinking water cooler.

The objects of my invention are to provide improved water coolers having improved cabinets provided with an improved cooling compartment, the water coolers having improved means for cooling the water and the cooling compartment, and also having improved water control, improved dispensing devices and improved water disposal devices.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the one form of cooler; i

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view partially in section of the drain basin and catch pan shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view'of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a front view of the push button and water spout of Fig. 1 with the ornamental cover removed;

Figf'l is a vertical sectional view of Fig. 6

Fig. 8 is a front view of the ornamental coverfor the water spout;

Fig. 9 is'a horizontal sectional view of a portion of the ornamental cover shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of another form of water cooler;

Fig. 11 is a horizontal sectional view of a portion of Fig. 10. and

Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view of the push button valve, shown in Fig. 11.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. 1, there is shown for the purpose of illustrating the invention, a water cooler of the bottle supp y type having a cabinet provided with a removable front panel 2| for access to the machinery compartment. Upon the top of the cabinet there is an inverted water bottle 22 for supplying the cooler with,w'ater. On its front face the cabinet is provided with a water discharge device having an ornamental cover 23 controlled by a push button 24 directly beneath. Below the ornamental cover 23 and the push button 24, a drain basin 25 and a'catch pan 2! immediately beneath the drain basin are provided for catching any surplus water and retainingit exterior of until the catch pan is emptied. A cooling com: partment for beverages having a front door 21 is provided at the side of the ornamental cover 23. Within the cabinet 20 there is provided an inner cabinet 80 (see Fig. 2). A flange 28 ex- 5 tends around the upper portidn of the cabinet.20 and supports a collar 3|, L-shaped in cross section, which in turn supports the inner cabinet 30 by means of the bent over lip 32 which surrounds the upper portion of the cabinet 30. An orna- 10 mental top cover 29 is supported upon the'upper edge of the outer cabinet '20 and is provided with an aperturein its upper portion and a flange surrounding the system for holding the inverted bottle 22. A gasket 33 is provided for sealing 15 the joint between the bottle 22 and the cover 29; Beneath the top cover 28 and the inverted bottle 22 is a funnel 24. The joint between the funnel 24 and the top cover 29 is sealed by a rubber gasket 35. The funnel 84 is threaded into 29 the upper portion of a water cooling coil 36 which is supported by the brackets 31 which are connected to an upper supporting frame member 38 which in turn is supported by the upper sides of the cabinet 30. The outer portion of the water 2: cooling coil 38 consists of an oval coilof flat copper tubing which is tinned on the inside. Within this outer Water coil is an inner oval shape refrigerant coil 39 of flattened copper tubing. In both of these coils the tubing is coiled with the flat so sides adjacent each other. These coils 36 and 39 are thermally and metallicaily bonded together by a low melting metal similar to solder which is poured between the inner and outer coils as shown at 40. By this construction, the transfer surface between the water and the walls of the tubes is increased, and the coiling is made more compact. At the aided the water'coollng coil 36 is a cooling compartment 4| for bottled beverages and 40 other articles. The side wall 42 of the compartment 4| furnishes the refrigeration for cooling the compartment 4|. A sheet member 43, having serpentine depressions therein, is welded to the sheet metal wall 42 to provide the serpentine refrigerant passages 44 for cooling the compartment 4|. A drain conduit 45 connects to the bottom of the compartment-4| and extends through the bottom of the cabinet 30 for draining any condensate from the compartment 4|. This condensate is conducted to the catch pan 26 on the exterior of the cabinet 20.

' Beneath the cabinet 30 is a machinery compartment not shown in detail. .Within the machinery compartment there is a compressor 41 for compressing a refrigerant, for example sulphur dioxide, and for forwarding it to the condenser 46 where the refrigerant is liquefied and collected in the receiver 49. From the receiver 49 the liquefied refrigerant is conducted through the conduit 50 to an expansion valve 5| from which point the expanded refrigerant is conducted through the conduit 52 to the serpentine passages 44 within the side of the cooling compartment 42 where some of the refrigerant vaporizes because of the absorption ofheat and thereby keeps the cooling compartment cool. After passing through the serpentine passage 44 within the side 42 of the cooling compartment H the refrigerant is conducted through the conduit 53 to the inner refrigerant coil 39 where the refrigerant absorbs heat from the water in the water coil 36 and thus cools the water. The vaporized refrigerant is returned from the refrigerant coil 39 to the compressor 41 through the return conduit 54.

The actuating means for the compressor preferably comprises an electric motor 55 connected by pulley and belt means 56 to the compressor 41. A well 51 containing a thermostatic bu'b 58 is soldered and thus thermally bonded to the upper outer portion of the water coil 36. This thermostatic bulb 58 is connected by a conduit 59 to a thermostatic switch means 60 for providing a1- ternate operating and idle periods of the compressor 41 according to the temperature of the water within the water cooling coil 36. absorbing material 6| is provided upon the inside of the walls of the cabinet 20 for absorbing any sounds which might come from the refrigerant liquefying mechanism. In one corner of the cabinet 36 there is provided a conduit 62 through which the conduit 59 passes from the thermostatic bulb 58 to the thermostatic switch 69 in the machinery compartment.

The lower end of the water cooling coil 36 extends to the front portion of the cabinet 30 and is connected to a valve head 65 which is fastened to the front wall of the cabinet 30. This valve head 65, better illustrated in Fig. '7, is provided with a shoulder 66 and a collar 61 which is threaded upon the valve head 65 and clamps the rubber gaskets 68 and 69, positioned on either side of the sheet metal walls of the cabinet 30 for supporting the valve head. The valve mechanism 19, provided with an integral water spout Ii, is threaded into the front end of the valve head 65. A gasket 12 is provided for sealing the threaded joint. The valve mechanism I0 is provided with an operating plunger 13 having a water valve 14 threaded to its inner end which is adapted to seat upon the valve seat 15 provided in the valve head 65. The coil spring 16 presses against the valve I4 and normally holds it upon the seat 15. The valve mechanism 10 is constructed so as to open should an excessive pressure develop within the water coils or the water line. In this manner the initial spurt of water, which would occur under such conditions when the'valve would be opened, is thereby prevented. A portion of the valve mechanism III and'the spout I I extends through the front wall of the cabinet 26. The aperture in the front wall 26 is sufficiently large to enable the valve mechanism 10 to be unscrewed and removed therethrough. The push button 24 is mounted beneath the spout II and has an operating rod I1 which is guided within a boss of an ornamental casting 18 mounted upon a front wall of the cabinet 20. A sheet metal lever I9, mounted upon a fulcrum and connected to the oper- Sound ating plunger H3 at one end and the operating rod 11 at the other end, is provided for opening and closing the valve 14 by means of the push button 24.

Fastened to the exterior of the cabinet 20 and surrounding the valve mechanism 10 is a horseshoe-shaped sheet metal bracket 8I provided with a pair of spring tongues 82 at either side which engage recesses 83 upon the interior of the ornamental cover 23 for the water spout H. A gasket 84 is provided for insulating the sheet metal bracket 82 and the ornamental cover 23 from the valve mechanism I6 and the cabinet 20; The ornamental cover 23 is insulated from the water spout II by the inner air space between the cover and the spout. In this manner the sweat which normally accumulates on the spout of a water cooler is shielded from view and the sweat is prevented from accumulating upon the ornamental cover of the spout by the insulation A drain basin 99 .(Figs. 4-and 5) is provided for receiving. any waste water. This drain basin 25 is supported by the catch pan 26 which is provided with a pair of apertures 9I which are hooked upon hooks 92 upon a sheet metal bracket 93 which is supported on the exterior oi the cabinet 20. A bead BI is provided upon the rear side of the catch pan 26 and a corresponding bead is provided upon the sheet metal bracket 93 for preventing unintentional removal of the catch pan 26. The drain conduit 45 at the bottom of the cooling compartment iI is connected by a conduit 95 which discharges into the catch pan 26 beneath the drain basin 25. In this way the end of the conduit 95 is concealed. The conduit 95 is provided with a looped-portion making a trap for sealing the drain. The drain basin is provided with an aperture 96 which allows water to drain therefrom into the catch pan 26.

The form shown in Fig. 10 is adapted to be connected to a city water supply and a city water drain. It has many features common to the first described form. In this form there is shown a cabinet I20 provided with a front panel I2I for access to the machinery compartment, an ornamental cover I23 for a water discharge spout, a push button I24 for controlling the discharge of water from the spout and a drain basin I25 for collecting the waste water. At the top of the cabinet I29 is a top cover I29 having a push button III! for controlling the flow of water to the bubbler III which extends upwardly from the bottom of the drain basin H2 provided in the top cover I29.

In this form instead of the water being supplied from an inverted bottle and funnel, a conduit I 32 (see Fig. 11) is provided with a threaded connection I3I for connecting to a source of water supply. This conduit extends upwardly through conduit I62 provided in the corner of the inner cabinet I30 which is similar to the cabinet 36 of the first described form. A pressure regulator and reducing valve I33 is connected to a conduit I32 for reducing the pressure to a desired amount. This pressure reducing valve is connected to the water cooling coil I36. This water cooling coil is similar to the water cooling coil 36 and is similarly bonded to the refrigerant coil I39. Refrigerant is supplied to the refrigerant coil I39 from the refrigerant liquefying mechanism mounted in the machinery compartment below which is controlled by athermostatic bulb all in a manner similar to that described in the first described embodiment. The water coil I36 connects to a valve head I 65 which is fastened to the front wall of the gabinet I. A valve mechanism and push button-similar to that previously described are connected to this valve head I85.

From the rear portion of the valve head IN a conduit I4I supplies cooled drinking water to a push button relief valve IIO. 'This valve has an operating plunger I13 having a valve I14 threaded to its lower end and adapted toengage a valve seat I15 provided in the valve casting I'M. A coil spring I16 normally holds the valve IN in closed position. The water enters through the threaded passage .I68 and is discharged through the threaded passage I II. Should the pressure regulating valve I33 leak, the pressure within the conduits of the cooling mechanism would build up to the supply pressure if no relief valves were provided. In such a case when the valve for the bubbler would be opened; an initial squirt under comparatively high pressure would result. This squirt might extend upwardly for several feet and would very likely squirt into the face of a prospective drink er. In order to avoid this, the valve I14 is so constructed that there is an unbalanced area acted upon by the water pressure which tends toopen the valve. This tendency to open is restricted by the spring I16. When the force tending to open the valve is greater than .the force exerted by the spring I16 tending to close the valve, the valve "4 will open and relieve the excess pressure. The push'button I I is mounted to slide within a collar I69 threaded to the valve casting I10. This collar is provided with a shoulder I66 and a collar I61 threaded thereon which is adapted to fasten the pushbutton. mechanism to the cover I29. The push button I III is adapted to act directly upon the operating plunger in and is sealed by a bellows I12. The discharge passage of the valve mechanism III! is connected by a conduit I42 to-the bubbler I43 which is fastened to the top cover I29. The bubbler I43 is provided with an ornamental cover I44 of harmoniousdesign.

Drain conduits are connected to drain outlets of the drain basins H2 and I25 for conducting waste water to a drain. It will be seen that I have provided an improved water cooler with many improved features.

while the form of embodiment ofthe invention as herein-disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

. l. A water cooler including a cabinet having a cooling compartment therein, said cooling compartment having a plurality of walls, a water cooling member within the cabinet comprising a coiled tubular member, a second tubular member coiled within and bonded to said first mentioned tubular member, one of said tubular members being a water coil and the other a refrigerant coil, means for supplying water to said water coil, means for supplying refrigerant to one of the wallsof said .cooling compartment to cool said compartment, a thermostatic bulb thermally connected to said Water coil for controlling said refrigerant supply means, means for conducting refrigerant from said wall to said refrigerant cell, a water discharge spout extending without the cabinet; an ornamental cover for said water discharge spout, said ornamental cover being spaced from said water discharge spout for preventing sweating oi saidcovenjsaid ornamental cover shielding the sweated surface or said water discharge spout from view, means for conducting water from said water coil to said water discharge spout, a pressure relief valve mechanism connected to said water discharge spout for controlling the flow of water thereto, a push button mechanism remote from said valve mechanism and said water discharge spout, and means connecting said push button mechanism and said valve mechaone of said walls being a plate type evaporator composed of a pair of sheets of metal having a -plurality oi refrigerant passages therebetween for cooling the compartment and a water cooling section outside said compartment having a refrigerant flow connection with said evaporator,

and a water flow connection faucet.

3. A water cooler having a cooling compartwith a discharge ment, a water cooler member, and a water dispensing device, said cooling compartment having a plurality of walls, means for supplying water to said water cooling member, means for conducting water from said water cooling member to said water dispensing device, means for supplying refrigerant to one of the walls of said compartment to cool said compartment, and means for conducting refrigerant from said wall to said water cooling member for cooling said. water.

4. A water cooler including a cabinet, a cooling compartment within the cabinet, a catch pan supported upon the exterior of the cabinet, a drain basin above the catch pan, and a drain conduit extending from the cooling compartment to the catch pan, the end of the conduit discharging into the catch pan being concealed beneath the drain basin.

5. A water cooler having a cooling compartment and a water cooling member, said compart ment having a plurality of walls, means for conducting refrigerant to one of said walls to cool said compartment, and means for conducting re frigerant from said wall to said water cooling member for cooling water.

6. A faucet comprising a body having a plate portion provided with a lateral projection having a'passage terminating in a discharge orifice constructed to discharge liquid substantially parallel to said plate portion, said plate portion also being provided with an opening adjacent the discharge orifice, a valvecontrolling said passage, and means accessible through said opening for op-, crating saidvalve. v

7. A faucet comprising a body having a substantlally vertical plate with a projection exclosed valve in said passage, a push button in said aperture, and means associated with said push button and valve for opening the valve upon operation of said push button.

8. A'faucet comprising a body having a substantially vertical plate with a projection extending therefrom, said body having a passage terminating in a downward discharge orifice in said projection, said body also having an aperture in said platebelow said orifice. a normally closed valve in said passage, and manual means having a member in said aperture for opening said valve.

stantially vertical plate with a projection extending therefrom, said body having a passage terminating in a downward discharge orifice in said projection, said body also having an aperture in said plate below said orifice, a valve controlling said passage, and means accessible through said aperture for operating said valve.

10. A plate, a housing associated with said plate, a discharge orifice for said housing spaced forwardly of said plate, a supply line connected to said housing, a reciprocable valve for control-- ling fluid passage through said housing means for maintaining said valve and having one end associated with the valve and its other end provided with a push button, the arrangement being such that when the push button is manipulated passage for fluid is afforded through said housing.

11. A valve assembly comprising a plate provided with an outwardly extending enlargement on its front face having a fluid discharge orifice, a valve movable transversely of the plane of the plate for controlling the flow of fluid, means for unseating said valve comprising a lever disposed angularly relative to the valve and adapted to be rocked on its support for opening the valve.

12. A valve assembly comprising a plate provided with an enlargement forming a valve casing and having a discharge orifice in its underside, a valve for closing fluid passage thru said orifice, a valve stem supporting said valve and movable transversely of the plane of the plate, operating means for said valve comprising a lever having one end associated with the valve when the lever is operated and having its other end accessible to' the front side of the plate, and a pivotal support for the intermediate portion of said lever.

DONALD H. REEVES. 

